How to Bet on 2026 NBA Awards (MVP, DPOY, ROY & Sixth Man)

The NBA season is winding down, which means award season is upon us. Before long, the NBA MVP and other awards will be announced, and you’ll have missed your chance to make some money.

Betting on 2026 NBA awards doesn’t have to be difficult. The pricing can spike in a hurry, and not every award is worth betting on, but there are clear angles and strategies for each trophy.

This 2026 NBA awards betting guide is focused on pointing you in the right direction, whether it be preparing you to bet on individual awards or nudging you toward the best sportsbook.

Let’s dive into these fun NBA betting markets and gauge what the best approach is for this year.

What is NBA Awards Betting?

NBA awards betting is a form of futures betting where you try to correctly predict (and bet on) which players will win specific awards. You wager on the outcome of the award race, and at the end of the season, you win money if you predict the winner correctly.

Here’s a snapshot of the most popular NBA award markets you can typically bet on:

• Most Valuable Player (MVP)
• Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY)
• Rookie of the Year (ROY)
• Sixth Man of the Year
• Coach of the Year

Unlike individual game betting, these markets cover the course of the entire NBA season, and you bet on which player will be voted as the award winner.

How NBA Awards Are Decided

NBA awards are voted on by a panel of media members, not regular analysts or even oddsmakers. This can incorporate human bias and opinion into the pricing, but it can also leave the door open for a key edge for bettors.

Here’s the main criteria these voters are factoring when they make their pick at the end of the year:

• Team success
• Individual production
• Narrative
• Games played
• 2-way impact

The team’s success criteria apply the most to the league MVP and Coach of the Year, but they can be viewed on different spectrums. For instance, a league MVP almost always comes from a top-2 seed, but a COY winner may not necessarily follow suit.

For all NBA awards, you need to pass the eye test in terms of raw stats and overall production. Panels typically are not going to dig into advanced stats. A small number of voters might do that, but if your surface-level stats aren’t impressive, you’re unlikely to win.

Narratives can be key, but aren’t the biggest driving factor. That said, if a player has never won an award and he’s in contention, it’s something bettors need to consider.

The NBA has a current rule regarding the number of games players need to suit up for in order to qualify to win an award. That number is set at 65, but the league is said to be exploring changing it due to some deserving players being omitted from awards races due to injury or unforeseen circumstances.

For the MVP in particular, a player’s two-way viability is usually considered. This means that a player can’t just excel on the offensive end of the floor. If their defense is bad or a hindrance to their team, it can impact their odds of winning the NBA MVP award.

Where to Bet on NBA Awards

Before we dive too deep into how you should bet on 2026 NBA awards this year, let’s take a pitstop at the best sites for betting on NBA awards.

This list is equal parts factual and subjective, and not really ranked in specific order. But there’s no denying that the following basketball betting apps are among the top options online.

All of these sites are great for betting on the NBA, but it’s arguable that DraftKings takes the cake if you want as many boxes checked as possible for NBA awards betting.

Of course, that all depends on what matters most to you.

This plays into line shopping, as well as bonuses and promotions. Finding the site that suits you best is something only you can decide. But if you need a site for NBA awards betting, picking one of the three above is a good place to start.

How to Bet on the NBA MVP Award

The NBA MVP award is usually the most obvious race when you get down to the end of the season and that’s not different this year.

To gauge what to do with this market, let’s inspect the latest odds, what goes into successfully betting on this award, and who we like to win it this year.

Latest NBA MVP Odds

The race is probably spelled out for us, as Oklahoma City Thunder star point guard SGA is a very strong favorite to repeat as league MVP. He won the hardware last year, and he’s done little to suggest he won’t win again this year.

OKC is again the best team in the NBA, and SGA has posted MVP-worthy stats, so the only issue is a lack of value for bettors.

Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham are two seemingly viable contenders that are technically eliminated due to the NBA’s clunky “65-game rule”, and they’re both currently sidelined.

Wemby is the top contender and is viewed as the only real threat to SGA’s MVP throne. He even went out of his way to plead his case.

Some people like Wemby’s public cry to be considered for league MVP, and others thought it was tacky. Regardless, his team isn’t ahead of SGA’s, and Wemby’s individual stats aren’t clearly better than the betting favorite’s.

Jokic and Brown have mild cases and offer solid value in theory, but are pretty poor bets.

NBA MVP Betting Strategy

This race seems to be wrapped up, but general NBA MVP betting strategy includes elite individual production, high-level team success, and strong narrative alignment.

It’s also best to bet on who will win the NBA MVP award before the season even starts. SGA is now listed at an absurd -4000, but preseason NBA MVP favorites tend to be priced around -200 to +200, depending on the player and season.

At this point, this betting market is best left avoided, or you should take a swing at someone other than SGA and hope for the narrative to pay off.

• Pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-4000)

It sure looks like SGA is going to win this thing for the second year in a row. My advice is to simply ignore this betting market and try targeting it earlier in the year when next season rolls around.

If you want to place a bet, however, Wemby is the clear pivot. He still offers pretty alluring +1800 odds, and he personally broke down his stronger-than-expected case to win it this year.

How to Bet on NBA Defensive Player of the Year

There are no current odds for this award at DraftKings, but that’s probably because the pricing for this award is even worse than it is for the NBA MVP.

Wemby pulled in with astronomical -10000 odds to win the award the last time pricing was available, and he checks every logical box for this market.

Defensive Player of the Year Odds

These were the most recent odds to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, but it’s currently not an open betting market. Wemby is the runaway favorite, so this is one we can cross off our list.

That said, if you want to prepare for next year, be sure to read up on our strategy tips.

DPOY Betting Strategy

The path to the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award is usually pretty straightforward. This is a big man’s award, and you better have a clear impact on the glass and around the rim.

Look for the following when sizing up the DPOY candidates:

• Rebounding
• Shot-blocking
• Team defense
• Team success

A DPOY winner can hail from a less-than-elite team, but usually, they at least need to be somewhat successful. IE, their impact on defense can’t go in vain.

In addition, the Defensive Player of the Year needs to dominate in at least one of two categories: rebounding and blocking shots (and ideally it’s both).

It remains to be seen how deep panels go or will go in the future when measuring DPOY impact, but so far, it seems this is their main criterion when casting their vote.

Defensive Player of the Year Prediction

• Pick: Wemby (-10000)

You literally can’t even place this bet right now, and it’s not a price I would suggest going after even if you could. Wemby is the slam dunk winner, though, as he’s the anchor to an elite San Antonio Spurs defense, and he averaged 11.5 rebounds and a staggering 3.1 blocks per game.

Wemby is a total eraser inside the paint, and his defensive prowess is made all the more impressive when you realize 1. His impact has further reach than his raw stats and 2. He’s just as good on the offensive side of the floor.

How to Bet on NBA Rookie of the Year

The NBA Rookie of the Year award is often very obvious, as the #1 pick in the NBA Draft tends to have the leg up. Not only are they the rookie stars getting the most attention from the jump, but they also tend to be the most talented players in their class.

That said, all draft classes are not equal, so the separation between the top pick and other players – not to mention role, overall production, and team success – can make betting on the Rookie of the Year difficult at times.

NBA Rookie of the Year Odds

The latest NBA Rookie of the Year betting odds favor Dallas Mavericks star Cooper Flagg. He’s had an amazing year despite some injuries and his team being terrible, but he’s been the bright spot along the way.

Flagg wasn’t expected to be this dominant offensively, either. Needless to say, his 21.2 points per game put him front and center in this Rookie of the Year race. The fact that he also rebounds well (6.6 rpg) and can create for others (4.6 apg) while defending at a high level (1.2 steals per game) cements his case.

Oh, and he became the youngest player ever to score 50 points in a game.

Flagg looks like a borderline lock to win Rookie of the Year at this point, which makes his -200 price tag a flat out steal.

The only other contender is Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel, who at least does have a solid case as a pivot bet.

Knueppel has been lights out from long range (43%) and has put up 18.7 points per game despite simply being one piece to the puzzle in Charlotte. The two key edges he has over Flagg? His team has had way more success, and he’s also been the more efficient player in general.

NBA Rookie of the Year Betting Strategy

There are several things that play into any prospective NBA Rookie of the Year betting strategy, but the reality is you’re simply betting on which NBA rookie will enjoy the best season.

The winner is usually pretty obvious, as most first-year players tend to struggle. A lot of their issues tend to deal with role and readiness for the highest level of basketball, and those factors should be part of your betting approach:

• Opportunity matters
• Consider versatility
• Prioritize players on bad teams
• Track rotations early
• Favor top draft picks
• Research talent and potential
• Bet early

Opportunity is the biggest factor for rookies. Does the guy you’re betting on have a clear path to starting or a locked-in role? Are they a versatile performer that can score in more than one way or rack up other stats if their shot isn’t falling?

In addition, you’ll want to prioritize the top portion of the first round with a focus on players with defined roles on bad teams. This allows them to play more, and it’s also easier to assess their overall impact, whether it be raw stats or how much they elevate their squad.

Overall, you’re trying to marry talent+opportunity and project which player will perform the best in year one.

The #1 pick is usually a good starting point, but they don’t win every season. The ROY has come from anywhere but the first overall pick in five of the last seven years, after all.

NBA Rookie of the Year Prediction

• Pick: Cooper Flagg (-200)

Kon Knueppel has a mild case to upset Flagg, but if we look at recent form and ceiling performances, this is clearly Flagg’s race to lose.

The other narratives adding to his case include the fact that he’s faced much more pressure as the top pick in the NBA Draft, as well as the reality that defenses key in on him every single game.

Flagg has taken on a bigger role and faced more pressure, yet he’s churned out better scoring and edges Knueppel out in rebounding, assists, and steals. I wouldn’t say there’s no chance Kon can win, but Flagg is the top value among all 2026 NBA awards bets right now.

How to Bet on 6th Man of the Year

Another key NBA award is the Sixth Man of the Year. This award goes to the best player who comes off the bench and makes an impact as the team’s top rotational piece.

The 6th Man of the Year tends to play 20-25 minutes and provide efficient scoring bursts to assist the starting five. The winner is typically somewhat obvious, but this is a race that can be subjective and go down to the wire.

Latest NBA 6th Man of the Year Odds

This is a betting market that is usually a little more undecided, even late in the year. That’s because even the best 6th Men are dealing with a somewhat limited role, and most of their production revolves around scoring.

Keldon Johnson is an interesting frontrunner, simply because a guy on his own team – Dylan Harper – might have just as strong of a case. If people want a strong 6th Man bet and are prioritizing team success, however, then Johnson does fit the bill.

Jaquez is definitely a worthy contender, though. His Miami Heat aren’t as good as the Spurs, but he puts up more points per game than Johnson and also happens to be the more versatile performer when you factor in his playmaking ability.

In fact, Jaquez doesn’t benefit as much as Johnson does in terms of open looks and team success, making his production arguably more impressive.

Late-season changes dull the shine of would-be viable contenders like Dosunmu and Sheppard, but they may have been very strong bets if their seasons ended a bit differently.

Sixth Man of the Year Betting Strategy

If you’re betting on who will win the NBA 6th Man of the Year award, you need to be willing to assume some risk. That’s if you’re placing bets before the season starts, of course.

This is the rare NBA betting market where waiting until later in the year is actually encouraged. Gone are the days of Jamal Crawford or Lou Williams being the obvious pick. Things are more spread out now, and player roles can change in the blink of an eye.

I’d bet later on this award, while also considering the following:

• Prioritize scoring
• Avoid players who could become starters
• Lean into role consistency
• Consider team success

You want explosive scorers who can be hyper-efficient in limited action off the bench. Who can score at a high level on a moment’s notice? That’s the first guy to be considered for this award.

Beyond that, make sure these guys don’t have clear paths to starting for their respective teams and make sure they can be reliable, consistent contributors to a winning squad.

NBA 6th Man of the Year Prediction

• Pick: Jaime Jaquez Jr. (+320)

Keldon Johnson is the runaway favorite at -350. All things considered, that’s a fair price and one we can still attack. I don’t think he’s as obvious of a pick, however, so I’d rather pivot to Jaquez.

Jaquez has been the more impressive scorer on the year, while he’s also been a very good playmaker. Johnson is the better perimeter shooter by the numbers, but San Antonio could get by without him. Not having Jazquez’s instant offense off the bench might actually hurt Miami.

How to Bet on NBA Coach of the Year

The other awards discussed here are all about the players. Welcome to perhaps the most subjective NBA award of them all, as it’s tough to gauge what matters more; the coach on the best team, or the coach that does the most with the least around him.

It’s arguable either way, while we’ve seen coaches win the hardware for different reasons. It ultimately can depend on the season and what transpires, but I’ll analyze the latest odds and go over some key strategy tips.

NBA Coach of the Year Odds

The race to win the NBA Coach of the Year award is an interesting one, but the biggest thing to consider is the distance between where a team was and where it is now.

Those meteoric rises – particularly when they result in a first-place finish – are what bettors need to pay the most mind to. If the coach did a lot with very little, they’re even more so a lock.

All of that applies to Bickerstaff, who is a -310 favorite after leading the Detroit Pistons to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. When looking at his resume and the fact that he’s kept things afloat down the stretch despite losing Cade Cunningham to a collapsed lung, he’s a home run pick.

Joe Mazzulla is in the mix, though. His Celtics didn’t miss a beat despite losing Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles. Heck, Boston even re-did their team on the fly. When looking at how the Indiana Pacers crumbled without top player Tyrese Haliburton in a similar spot, Mazzulla’s effort is even more noteworthy.

Mitch Johnson may be the best value of them all, however. He took a Spurs team that wasn’t even in the NBA playoffs a year ago to the brink of the top seed in the Western Conference. While the Spurs ultimately didn’t dethrone OKC, they did beat them in their four-game series over the course of the regular season.

It wouldn’t be right to leave out Hornets coach Charles Lee, either. He’s pieced together a gritty team that is short on experience but can slay dragons with physical defense and elite perimeter shooting. Transforming a dumpster fire Charlotte team into one of the NBA’s scariest outs comes playoff time is quite the accomplishment.

NBA Coach of the Year Betting Strategy

Betting on the NBA Coach of the Year awards comes down to some key criteria, as well as a little luck. Looking back at past Coach of the Year winners, it’s not an exact science, but the top guys tend to have certain things in common.

Making a big leap from one year to the next is key, while high-level team success is a must. You have a very good shot at winning if your team has the best record in your conference, while a top-2 seed is typically a precursor to claiming the hardware.

NBA Coach of the Year Prediction

• Pick: JB Bickerstaff (-310)

This is one NBA betting market where you could pick a name out of a hat blindly, and I don’t know if anyone cares who the coach is. There are legitimately six candidates that have a strong case here; each case is simply very different.

That said, Bickerstaff has earned this award. Detroit went from just another playoff team to one of the best defenses in all of basketball. They’ve been dominant at home, they’ve stepped up against elite competition, and as I write this, they’re pushing for 60 wins and have locked up the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

The big jump and nailing the 1-seed are huge, but the crazy part is the Pistons have done it with top-shelf coaching and team defense. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren are fine superstars to build around, but they aren’t Wemby or Jokic.

Bickerstaff has done the most with the least, all things considered, and is the easy pick for this award.

General NBA Award Betting Strategies

I’ve detailed some key strategies for each NBA award that you’ll want to deploy, but there are also general strategies that apply to all markets.

• Bet early – Take advantage of prices when they’re at their best and strike before narratives lock.
• Track narratives – Speaking of narratives, it’s important to keep tabs on media, news, and rumors to help gauge where odds could be moving.
• Monitor injuries – Until the 65-game rule is gone, it’s something to track. Even if it gets eradicated, players missing a ton of time will naturally be negatively impacted.
• Shop lines – Once everything is factored, you still need to shop for the best NBA awards odds that money can buy.
• Map role changes – Whether it’s the ROY or the next 6th Man worth betting on, map our prospective player roles and bet accordingly.

NBA Awards Odds Movement Explained

You know how to bet on the major NBA awards, and you have some useful tips and strategies to lean on. But why do the odds move, and why does it matter?

Here’s a quick breakdown of NBA awards odds movement and what to keep an eye out for:

Common NBA Awards Betting Mistakes to Avoid

You know what to do when betting on who will win NBA awards, but what about what not to do?

If you want to get ahead in these types of betting markets, here are the biggest mistakes to avoid:

• Betting too late into the market
• Ignoring team success
• Overvaluing stats without context
• Leaning into the wrong data
• Not accounting for eligibility
• Ignoring narratives
• Chasing hype after odds move

All of these mistakes are easy to make, but they’re also easy to avoid. Most of them go together pretty seamlessly, too, so if you start watching out for some, you’ll naturally avoid many of the others.

Usually pricing speaks for itself. If a player has insane odds to win an award, you’ve missed the best time to join the party. By then, you need to move onto another market, invest in someone else, or just wait to see if things change for the better.

Overall, most NBA awards betting mistakes stem from not keeping tabs on the NBA season and players. If you’re monitoring injuries, roles, production, and pricing, you’ll likely be doing enough to give yourself a solid chance at profiting.

How to Win Betting on 2026 NBA Awards

The easiest path to winning money by betting on 2026 NBA awards is preparation and timing. You need to do your research and know what you’re betting on, but you also want to place most of your bets early and ideally before the new season even starts.

While true, you also want to stay synced up with the NBA season, as injuries and teams performing above or below expectations can drastically impact pricing.

Narratives are also important, while you also want to make sure the player or coaches you back follow a similar criteria of past winners. There are always going to be outlier results, but more often than not the NBA awards winners will follow a similar path.

For this year, Cooper Flagg to win ROY is easily the best value left on the board. With the season winding down in a hurry, I’d jump all over that bet before attacking anything else.